Weekly Poll: Would you, could you homeschool one and not the other?

Would you, could you homeschool one and not the other?

Now, not that either of my boys want to go back to school, ever! Just wondering, there has been talk about how some families only homeschool one or a couple of their kiddos and the other (s) go to regular school. Whether it is because they want too, you need them to go, OR you homeschool up to a certain grade then they go back. I thought that it was a very interesting discussion on how and why families decide to homeschool or not homeschool all their kids.

Personally, I can see my youngest going back in high school. He is so out going and loves to play, play and oh yeah talk to any and everybody! Right now , he says never but you never know what four more years might bring! My oldest, now in 9th grade, is better off at home. He can learn at his own pace, which is VERY fast when it comes to video game design and animal biology/behavior. In other areas, like spelling and math he isn’t as fast at catching those new concepts, so this just works for him!

I chose other. When I started homeschooling, I only taught my DD while DS older and DS younger both went to school. The next year, I became very concerned about DS younger's lack of progress at PS. So, we brought him home, too. Now DS older was already starting high school, full to the brim with teen angst and I-have-a-wicked-stepmother blues. We left him in PS for everyone's sanity.

ETA: Going back to public school is not an option for my younger two. I have developed a rather strong dislike for PS these last couple of years and I won't subject my kids to that. DS older could choose to homeschool any time he wants but given that he's a junior this year, I think that's highly unlikely.

Well, seeing as I am currently one of those folks who does have both... It is something we talk about every year, though. Right now DS has no intentions of returning to school at any point in the foreseeable future, and honestly I can imagine him being at home until he's able to start college. At some point he'll have to start taking math and/or science classes elsewhere, but it wouldn't be full-time enrollment in school. DD goes back and forth. Most days she enjoys being at school and seeing her friends, and she loves going to reading/spelling in a different classroom (they've advanced her in those subjects, which I like because it means she's being challenged), but sometimes she just wants to come home so she can be challenged in other ways or do things like 10 pages of math and absolutely nothing else for a day or two. We'll see. The day she has a full-on rage at school, the dynamic changes and I'd be more likely to yank her, so I'm kind of waiting for that particular shoe to drop.

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Sarah B., Oklahoma"By three methods we may learn wisdom: first, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third, by experience, which is the bitterest." - Confucius

I chose other because I have one that is in public school and has always been in school. We decided to homeschool because of specific quirks and needs of my son. By that point my oldest was already in high school, has always done well in school, has no desire to homeschool at all and I'd have a court battle with her dad if I tried.

For my younger two that I am homeschooling, we plan to homeschool at least until high school. If we are still in our current school district, we will give them the option of homeschooling, doing some college classes at community college and/or attending the local high school. We have no plans to put them back in school before high school and will not give them the option before then, unless something truly radical happens.

We have all of them at home now, but every year we ask them what they'd like to do. So far none of them shows any interest in going, and the oldest is adamant that he will not return (we pulled him in the beginning of 2nd). I'm not sure what the high school years will be like, but it's always an option for them.

As my children's parent, I am responsible for making sure they get the best education. In my opinion, that can only be done at home. I homeschool for the long haul. Now when the kids have graduated from my homeschool, they may to to PS. But in Texas they won't allow their credits to transfer, so it is only a social thing. I did have one child, do his senior year at a local PS. I insist mine graduate at 17, in the state of Texas they are at the legal age of consent then so they can do as they will. I require they finish school with me, while I am still in control. I know mean mom !

Everyone's situation and philosophy's different, so only speaking for US....

Homeschool is all kids for all grades. They don't get a vote (although they'd cry if I told them they had to go to school, lol). Until their frontal lobe is developed enough to understand life consequences (19-21 yo, btw) *OR* they exert a legal right (18yo) it's our call and our responsibility. Mind you, we believe in giving our kids as much responsibility as they can handle since we aren't raising children but future adults. But basic life altering decisions like school setting is our choice.

In our situation, I can't see hs some and not others to cause anything but strife. Our kids are very close and get along amazingly well. I think different school settings would create jealousies and separation. If you send one to ps you are inviting that whole world into your home, and it's just not worth it to us. If there was something in the ps world one child would benefit from we would find an alternate hs-friendly option.

Again, that's just us and our situation. Everyone has to make the best decision for their family and I won't presume to know what's best for anyone else.

Hmm, as time has passed, I have shifted somewhat on this. At first, I pulled ds9 out and hs'd him out of necessity. It went SO well, that I asked ds6 if he wanted to come home, too. He did. I told them that we will take it year-by-year. It is a lie. After seeing my older change before my very eyes, I couldn't WAIT to get #2 home with me. I manipulated and spoke so sweetly about hsing....younger didn't have a chance (lol). I have no intention of EVER sending them back. I don't mention it to ANYONE, though. Only my secret club (you guys). heehee

When I started this journey, we decided it was for my oldest son only and ONLY through 6th grade to get him up to par for 7th grade standard and insert him back into public school. Well, that was at least what I said to DH!LOL
My plan was for him NEVER to go back or at least homeschool through middle school.
Then 3 months after we started homeschooling him, his younger brother was having issues and we pulled him.
Even then, the plan was JUST until middle school was done and they would go to high school in public school.
Well, while they are soared in their learning....the public schools around here have gone downhill faster than you can imagine and there is NO WAY we would send them back to public school at this point.
Every Summer, I sit them down and ask each one of them whether they want to go to public school or not. They have the choice and we as parents will decide based on their decision but it is not set in stone. So far, there has been no hesitation. They want to stay home and do school! YEAH
But, if one wanted to go back to public school and one didn't... I would be fine with that. I would be worried for the son that was at PS but I would be ok.
I think it would be a culture shock, despite that they were in PS through 5th grade. Oldest son is now a 9th grader and has been in a PS since the first 5 weeks of his 6th grade year and younger son hasnt been in middle school at ALL so the changing of classes, the lots of people, etc. I think would get to him.